Self-lubricating chain



Oct. 6, 1936. O BLAKE I 2,056,597

SELF LUBRICATING CHAIN Filed Dec. 21, 1954 2 Shee'ts-Sheet l .Oct. 6, 1936. F. o. BLAKE 2,056,597

SELF LUBRICATING CHAIN Filed Dec. 21, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V, F j K Fatented Oct. 6, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELF-LUBRICATING CHAIN tion of Illinois Application December 21, 1934, Serial No. 158,644 1 Claim. (Cl. 74-257) This invention relates to a chain and has for an object to provide within the chain a construction by means of which adequate lubrication is insured.

' Another object is to provide for adequate lubrication in a chain without the addition of any parts and without complicating the design or construction of the chain.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in. the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one chain link with parts broken away and parts in section;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section, taken at line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken at line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an elevation of the bushing;

Figure 5 is a transverse section through the bushing shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view generally similar to Figure 1, illustrating a modified form in which the sides of the chain are straight and in which the groove is continuous from one perforation to the next;

Figure 7 is a transverse section taken at line 7-1 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view showing a modified form of link in which the grooves are on the outside;

Figure 9 is a further modified form in which the grooves are on the inside and are uninterrupted by the shape of the link. I

Like parts are designated by like characters throughout the specification and drawings.

In the form shown the chain comprises a plurality of links, each link of which is made up of two side bars and a bushing. The links are assembled on pintle pins.

As shown each link comprises side bars A, laterally bent as at A as shown in Figure 1. The side bar portions A are perforated as at A to receive a pintle pin. Adjacent the perforations for the pintle pin may be formed projections or abutments A which may be contacted by a portion of the pintle to prevent its turning. The side bars A are perforated as at A to receive a bushing and each of the side bars is slotted, preferably on its inner face, as at A to provide a lubricant passage or duct through which lubricant may be conducted to the bushing. The lubricant passage or duct runs from a point intermediate the ends of the side bar and between the perforations A and A into the perforation A.

B is a preferably cylindrical bushing on each end of which one side bar is mounted to form the link, as shown particularly 'in Figure 1. The bushing is preferably provided with two perforations B 13 which in the assembled link are in line, one with each of the lubricant grooves or ducts A as shown particularly in Figure 1.

A roller C is mounted on the bushing B to rotate about it, and may be provided with a perforation C The roller may be of any desired construction.

A pintle pin D is positioned in the opposite end of the side bars and passes through the perforations A. It may be provided with a head D so shaped that it will contact one of the members A and be prevented from rotation and displacement by reason of that contact. At its opposite end the pintle is perforated and a cotter or other retaining pin or member D is inserted in it to hold it in place.

In the modified form shown in Figures 6 and 7, the chain is formed of pairs of inner straight sided links E, E, each of which is provided on one face with a groove E, which extends from one perforation in the link to the other.

Each pair of links E, E, has connecting it, and preferably fixed in it, a bushing F, which is provided with perforations F F As a link is assembled as shown in Figure 6, each of the perforations F F is in alignment and in communication with a groove E Positioned upon the bushing F and arranged to rotate about it is a roller G, which is preferably perforated as at G The outer links are made of side bars H, H, each perforated adjacent each end to receive a pintle H which may be provided with a fixed head H and may be riveted over as at H after assembly, or may be otherwise shaped and fastened into position. The details of the riveting or other fastening form no essential part of the present invention and are therefore not described in detail.

The link form shown in Figure 8 is made of side bars of. the same form as those shown in Figures 6 and 7, but they are so mounted that the grooves E are on the outside of the link.

Slightly different bushings I are used. Instead of having perforations they are notched or otherwise slightly cut away at their outer ends as at I to form apertures or openings which will be in communication with the grooves E and through which lubricant can flow or be forced to the interior of the bushing I. The rollers G, perforated as at G are the same as those shown in Figures 6 and 7 and are mounted upon the bushings. The outer links H, H are of the form shown in Figure 6, and the pintle H is the same as that shown iii Figure 6.

In the form shown in Figure 9 the inner link is made of side bars J, J, which are laterally deformed or bent as at J to form lubricant grooves J, J. These extend across the link and interrupt or communicate with a groove J, J, one branch or end of which communicates with a bushing F provided with perforations F in the same form as the bushing shown in Figure 8. A roller G, perforated as at G, is mounted upon each of the bushings. The side bars H, H, forming the outer link, are the same as those shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, and the pintle pins H are the same as those previously shown and described.

It will be realized that whereas I have herewith shown and described a practical operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention and I wish, therefore, that my showing be taken as in a sense diagrammatic.

In particular the invention is not limited to any particular material or manner of constructing the link. It may be cast, forged or otherwise made. As shown it may be straight or curved. The grooves may be on the inside or the outside of the links. They may be on all links or only on some. The links themselves may be made of side bars each of which is grooved both on the outside and on the inside, and they may extend from one perforation to the other in the side bar as shown for example in Figures 6 and 8, or they may extend only to one of the perforations. as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or they may extend to both perforations, but with an interruption as shown in Figure 9.

While grooves have been spoken of, this language is not meant as limiting the type of conduit by means of which lubricant is moved to the pintle or to the bushing and any passage through which lubricant can move is within the meaning of this language and within the scope of this invention.

In most of the types of the invention shown herewith the oil hole or lubricant passage through the bushing is so positioned that it is completely confined tothe section of the bushing within the side bar and the bushing at this point, where it is weakened by the presence of the oil hole or lubricant passage, is strengthened by being completely surrounded by the side bar.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

The links of this invention are assembled together to the suitable number to provide a chain of the desired length. When the chain is in use it will ordinarily be positioned about sprockets or other suitable rotary members. It may travel in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1. In use, lubricant is applied to the chain in any suitable manner, as by being dripped or otherwise put upon it, and it will be collected and forced through the slots in the side bars, thence through the perforations or openings or passages in the bushing and so will pass to the interior of the bushing to lubricate it and to lubricate the pintle pin D which lies withinthe bushing and thus the parts are adequately lubricated.

In the various forms of the invention the operation is generally the same. A chain having one or more links of the type shown, is assembled and is put into position about sprockets or other means whereby the chain is in position for use. Whatever type of link is used, the chain is preferably so arranged that a link member having a lubricant groove is in communication with each pintle so that lubricant is supplied or forced from one such groove to each pintle. Thus each pintle of the chain is adequately lubricated.

Lubricant is applied to the chain itself in any desired manner and having been applied to the chain it is collected into the groove or grooves and is then moved or forced, by the movement of the chain or otherwise, through the groove and through the notch or perforation in the bushing, to the interior of the bushing to lubricate the pintle pin which lies within the bushing and rotates with respect to it.

In the form of the chain shown in Figure 9, the transverse grooves J act in addition to the longitudinal grooves J as lubricant receiving and storing grooves. In efiect they pick up lubricant and convey it to the longitudinal grooves J from which it moves through the bushingsto lubricate the pintle pins.

If the invention is embodied in a chain in which there is no bushing and in which the pintles are to be lubricated directly and not through bushings, the operation is substantially the same. Thus whatever the form of bearing in the chain, the lubricant moves through the lubricant passages formed in the chain, whatever the shape or arrangement of those passages may be, and finally reaches the pintle pin which it lubricates.

' I claim:

In a chain formed of a plurality of links, the combination in a link of side bars, a hollow joining bushing attached to each side bar and adapted to receive a pin, means for lubricating the pin within the bushing comprising a perforation in the bushing and a groove in the side bar of the link in communication with said perforation, said groove having its open end toward the normal direction of movement of said chain and terminating at a point intermediate the ends of the bar.

FRANK O. BLAKE. 

